How to Grow Your Own Vegetables

You can grow your own vegetables. Size does not matter, regardless of the space available, as long as it gets 6-8 hours of sunlight per day, you can grow your own. Answer the questions posed in the ten points that follow and you will be on your way to growing, your own, healthy food.

Grow You Own Vegetables:

1- This is the most important question to answer. How much time do you have for your garden? Organic growing requires a bit of attention, how much depends upon how big the garden is. So before you begin, give serious thought to your schedule. It is better to start small and expand the garden as time permits than to be overzealous and watch the garden die.

2- Now that you have decided how big the garden will be make a plan. Where will the garden go? How big will it be?

3- Step one of the plan is what will you grow? Grow what you will eat. I suggest mixing salad greens with beans, peas, tomatoes and root vegetables if you have the time and space. Grow what will thrive in your gardening zone. Staring seeds indoors and the sue of row covers, and greenhouses for example are great ways to extend the season and growheat loving plants like peppers and tomatoes in cooler climates.

4- Draw a rough sketch of the garden. This is a good time to start your garden journal with a plan and a plant list. The journal will come in handy throughout the growing season and when you begin planning next year’s garden.

5- Buy organic, heritage seeds or seedlings. This gets the plants off to a good start and the seeds these plants bear can be saved and planted next year. Plant the seeds according to the instructions; make notes in your journal about the plants’ development. You will find this useful in the coming years.

6- Soil, growing in containers use organic potting soil and add a bit of compost, at the beginning, in the middle and at season’s end. The same applications need to be made to the garden bed. Healthy soil creates the conditions for healthy vegetables and healthy vegetables help you be healthy.

7- Feed the soil, you add compost, organic compost to feed the soil. Start a compost bin if you do not have one.

8- Water, early morning is the best time to water your garden, water deep. Be sure to give the plants a long drink so the roots will grow strong. A strong root system is essential to a thriving garden. Keep the garden healthy and it can withstand the threats, pests, disease that will confront it.

9- Take a stroll around your garden, once a week or more often if you wish, simply walk around the gardening observing what is going on. Make note of anything unusual or new. You can avoid problems by investing this time.

10- Enjoy. Growing your own food has many rewards that go beyond putting fresh, healthy food on the table. You spend time outside which is always a plus, get some exercise and connect with Nature. Happy Growing.